Athletics has returned at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campuses at Fond du Lac and Fox Cities.

Men’s basketball conference games for the Falcons at Fond du Lac and Cyclones at Fox Cities continue until Feb. 26, before playoffs on March 7 and 11. The inaugural Wisconsin Competitive Sports League (WCSL) championship is set for March 13.

Formed to replace the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference, the WCSL will transition to co-ed tennis competition in April and May. Women’s volleyball will get underway in late September and continue through October.

“Fox Cities and Fond du Lac have strong participation, where some of the others struggle a bit,” said interim sports co-coordinator Jeremiah Hoffmann. “I do think the foundation being established will continue to build the programs.”

Basketball games are typically held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, playing all schools in the league twice. Additionally, both Fond du Lac and Fox Cities scheduled a few non-conference games.

Besides UWO (Fond du Lac and Fox Cities), the league is made up of two-year campuses at UW-Green Bay (Manitowoc, Marinette and Sheboygan) and UW-Stevens Point (Marshfield and Wausau). Basketball games also have been played against junior varsity teams from nearby four-year schools including Marian University, Ripon College and Concordia University.

While Hoffmann focuses on Fond du Lac and the UWO women’s golf team he coaches, Adam Ligocki is serving as interim sports co-coordinator for the UWO Fox Cities campus.

In an interesting “I-41 rivalry,” Fond du Lac and Fox Cities play each other at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 21 at Fox Cities.

UWO Assistant Chancellor Martin Rudd said the WCSL provides opportunities for students on campus who want to continue playing sports they played in high school.

“It is both a useful recruitment for us and a great way for those students starting at (the access campuses) to continue something they love,” he said.